The 20 Safest Airlines in the World

Posted by Doug Murray on August 22, 2018

When you’re choosing an airline, price is just one of the factors you need to consider. For example, you have to ask yourself: Will the airline treat you like royalty or will it break your guitar? More importantly though is how safe it is to fly with a particular airline. After all, you want to make it to your destination safe and sound. So which are the safest airlines in the world? Here are 20 of the world's safest airlines in 2018.

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Hawaiian Airlines

Considering that the airline started flying in 1929 and has never had a fatal accident in all this time, it’s no surprise that AirlineRatings.com ranks Hawaiian Airlines among the 20 safest airlines in the world. While the airline doesn’t serve any Canadian airports, it is an easy way to get around the islands of the Aloha State, which is one of the best places to travel in April.

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Qantas

Diving the Great Barrier Reef is one of those epic trips to take when you can’t wait for retirement and with Qantas, you can reach several of the Reef’s islands. Australia’s flag carrier made it onto AirlineRatings.com’s list of the safest airlines. Among the many international destinations that Qantas serves are Toronto and Vancouver.

WestJet

WestJet is one of the safest low-cost airlines, according to AirlineRatings.com. This means you can visit all those secret places in Canada that locals don’t want you to know about, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Not figuratively and not literally either.

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Air Canada

Looking for cheap places for Canadians to visit to visit this winter? Whether it’s Mexico, the Caribbean or somewhere in Canada, Air Canada can take you there safely. Canada’s flag carrier is one of the world’s safest airlines according to the 2018 JACDEC Airline Safety Ranking.

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All Nippon Airways

The island of Shikoku in Japan is one of the best destinations for worriers. You don’t even need to stress about getting there, since AirlineRatings.com regards All Nippon Airways as one of the world’s safest airlines for 2018. Japan’s largest airline connects Shikoku’s airports with Calgary and Vancouver.

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Singapore Airlines

Singapore is home to one of the world’s best airports. Singapore Airlines is regarded as one of the world’s safest by both AirlineRatings.com and JACDEC. The airline flies from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Singapore Changi Airport so you can see first-hand what the fuss is all about.

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Aer Lingus

Of course you’d want to see as much as possible of the Irish countryside. If you’re pressed for time, however, you can fly between the Emerald Isle’s main airports with your only worry being those Irish words Canadians don’t understand. AirlineRatings.com says that Aer Lingus is one of the world’s 10 safest low-cost airlines.

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Vueling

Barcelona is one of the best destinations to visit in September. It’s also the hub for Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling, which is considered one of the world’s safest airlines by both JACDEC and AirlineRatings.com. If for some strange reason you get tired of Barcelona’s magic, Vueling also flies to numerous destinations all over Europe, North and West Africa and the Middle East.

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Emirates

Dubai is one of the best Zika free destinations that go beyond the beach, even though the city does have some spectacular beaches. It’s also the hub for Emirates, which JACDEC ranks as the world’s safest airline. Emirates operates on all the continents except Antarctica, serving 150 destinations, including Toronto.

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Frontier Airlines

Many of the cheapest places to travel from Canada are in the United States. You can visit them all in one trip and still cut costs by flying with an ultra low-cost carrier like Frontier Airlines. AirlineRatings.com says that it’s one of the safest low-cost airlines in the world too. You can catch a flight with Frontier from Alberta.

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Finnair

Finnair started flying in 1923 and both AirlineRatings.com and JACDEC rate it among the world’s safest airlines. If you want to visit one of the hottest new holiday spots around the world, however, you’ll have to pop across the border and fly with Finnair from Chicago or New York.

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KLM

The world’s oldest airline still operating is also one of the safest, according to both JACDEC and AirlineRatings.com. In fact, it’s so safe to fly with KLM that the Dutch king Willem-Alexander has served as first officer on some flights even after he became king. KLM flies from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and its hub is Amsterdam, one of the world’s healthiest cities.

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EVA Air

Taiwan’s EVA Air flies to more than 40 international destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver. The flight to Taipei is long and you’ll want to find ways to fly in comfort on a budget. Both AirlineRatings.com and JACDEC rank EVA Air as one of the world’s safest airlines.

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Air New Zealand

Wellington International Airport is one of the most dangerous airports in the world, so when you come in to land here, you definitely want a pilot who knows what they’re doing. It’s reassuring then that AirlineRatings.com rates New Zealand’s flag carrier as one of the world’s safest airlines. Air New Zealand has its hub in Auckland and serves 31 international destinations including Vancouver.

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Thomas Cook Airlines

Think of Thomas Cook and you probably think of beach holidays. Thomas Cook Airlines flies to numerous popular beach destinations, including the tropical paradise of Mauritius: one of the places that will actually pay you to live there. You’ll get there safe and sound too, since AirlineRatings.com lists Thomas Cook Airlines as one of the world’s safest low-cost carriers.

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Spirit Airlines

Ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is rated as the safest airline in the United States, according to JACDEC. Based in Florida, Spirit flies to destinations throughout the United States as well as several other destinations in the Americas. It may not be the most luxurious airline to fly with but if you want to see the hidden gems of Mexico and Central America, the airline gives you one of the cheapest and safest ways to get there.

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Flybe

If you want to save money while travelling Europe, you can’t go wrong flying with a low-cost carrier. Flybe is the largest independent regional airline in Europe and serves popular destinations mainly in Western Europe. Aside from being cheap, Flybe is safe too: one of the world’s safest low-cost airlines, according to AirlineRatings.com.

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Scandinavian Airlines

Scandinavian Airlines is the flag carrier of Sweden, Denmark and Norway: three of the world’s richest countries. In true Scandinavian fashion, the airline is also one of the world’s safest, according to AirlineRatings.com. Scandinavian Airlines flies to destinations all over Europe as well as a few in Asia and the United States.

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Royal Jordanian Airlines

Royal Jordanian Airlines flies to some of the world’s best airports but doesn’t have a problem touching down at some very dodgy ones either. At least you’ll arrive in one piece before having one of the worst airport experiences in the world. AirlineRatings.com lists Royal Jordanian Airlines as one of the 20 safest airlines for 2018.